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A large part of the difference is the other folks, are from countries that promote actually walking and provide world class transportation options. Living in Montreal, which is much closer to Paris, everyone on the Isle primarily walks (and yes Montreal is an island). We have excellent mass transit, reasonably priced if not the latest technology, so it's actually easier to travel by mass transit than it is to use a car.

Another factor is the quality of the food in many parts of the US. American food is inundated with so many additives, many of which are banned in Europe and the use of preservatives is much lower, as most people buy their food almost daily, as they transit from point to point.

The last thing I noticed, when in Europe, is that they have overweight folks, but I didn't see anyone who was as large as some Americans. When you are so heavy, that you cannot exit a car, and they have to cut the car top off and use a CRANE to get you out... America we have a problem.

A large part of the difference is the other folks, are from countries that promote actually walking and provide world class transportation options. Living in Montreal, which is much closer to Paris, everyone on the Isle primarily walks (and yes Montreal is an island). We have excellent mass transit, reasonably priced if not the latest technology, so it's actually easier to travel by mass transit than it is to use a car.

You can live like this in the US if you choose to -- I've not owned a car for 24 years. Hence I've never been overweight.

Less manual labor and more convenience arenít the only things that keep Mexico plodding along the path toward obesity -- it's also terrible eating habits, paradoxically fostered in part by low incomes.

"The same people who are malnourished are the ones who are becoming obese," physician Abelardo Avila with Mexico's National Nutrition Institute told CBS News. "In the poor classes we have obese parents and malnourished children. The worst thing is the children are becoming programmed for obesity. It's a very serious epidemic."

Barry Popkin, an obesity expert at the University of North Carolina, attributes much of the spike in Mexican obesity to increased consumption of cheap sugary drinks and mass-marketed snack foods (the type of things that got Americans fat as well), which have displaced home-cooked meals, along with fresh fruits and vegetables.

As Al Jazeera put it in an article published in April:

The speed at which Mexicans have made the change from a diet dominated by maize and beans to one that bursts at the seams with processed fats and sugars poses one of the greatest challenges to public health officials.

I would also like to point out that when it comes to being fat, diet is more important than exercise. Exercise has its own merits but for weight loss proper diet is key.

You can live like this in the US if you choose to -- I've not owned a car for 24 years. Hence I've never been overweight.

While that's true, my point was that access to "real" mass transit, makes transportation easier and encourages more people to use it. You can't travel far distances in the US, unless you fly. Outside of major cities the options are few, unless you have a car. Few cities have incorporated themselves into the surrounding areas, as opposed to the countries referenced. That's part of my point. These other countries have a national transportation system, not just regional, so all the citizens have access to a healthier way of travel.

You can live like this in the US if you choose to -- I've not owned a car for 24 years. Hence I've never been overweight.

If you live in a large urban area you can -- for the majority of the US, you really can not do so easily. Our communities, outside of big cities are geared toward automobiles. Yes, we have sort of demanded that for a whole host of reasons, but you can not compare how one can live in NYC or Philly with folks in smaller cities and towns. I could not get by without my car here in the Richmond area.

If you live in a large urban area you can -- for the majority of the US, you really can not do so easily. Our communities, outside of big cities are geared toward automobiles. Yes, we have sort of demanded that for a whole host of reasons, but you can not compare how one can live in NYC or Philly with folks in smaller cities and towns. I could not get by without my car here in the Richmond area.

Did you notice that I used the word "choose"? You're welcome to structure your life like I have if you are willing to look for a new job and move.

Joe used Montreal as an example -- not the entire province of Quebec or even all of Canada. You people are comparing apples to oranges, whereas I am decidedly not.

Sometimes I think I need a lobotomy to converse with some of you.

What are you talking about? You are the one who said one could choose to live in a big city? The OP was talking about American men, not city men, not suburban men. Joe pointed out that there is more than a regional need -- so I'm not sure why you suddenly think that I am missing a point about this being local? So, from where I sit, you are the one who is comparing apples in a post about oranges.

Joe compared Montreal to Paris -- reread his post. I merely stated that there are US cities where one can structure you life in the same way if you choose to do so. I'm sorry if this angers you so much.

Id say Krispy Kreme, In N Out, Arbys, Taco Bell, Dunkin Donuts, the list is too long has a lot more to do with it than smoking.

In fact, adding to what miss p said about cities, of course walking has a lot to do with it but urban areas in the US have less fast food than suburban areas. I know here in Seattle we have a definite lack of fast food chains, but go out into the burbs and they are everywhere.

Food choices play an important role.

I was a little taken a back by the lack of muscle tone. Maybe that wasn't a part of the display

When I was in France at the beginning of the summer for 10 days I don't think I had a soda the entire time. They also stick to breakfast, lunch and dinner and don't often indulge in snacking. They don't deprive themselves at all though when they do eat, but they also don't have more than one serving of anything generally. I didn't see a single bag of chips in the house of the friends I was staying with. And, OMG they even owned a car while living directly next to a subway station.

Yes, let us argue semantic gymnastics. My point remains if you give people real country-wide transportation options and provide healthier food (even fast food) you can help to reduce the calories consumed. Fast food companies are some of the first to tailor their food to the locale. A MD in Paris, or even here, is very different from a US MD. Plus, their base ingredients don't have half the fillers and preservatives that we have in the US.

Part of it is simply societal, in that each country develops it's own identity... warts and all.

Joe compared Montreal to Paris -- reread his post. I merely stated that there are US cities where one can structure you life in the same way if you choose to do so. I'm sorry if this angers you so much.

First -- I am not angry at all. Just pointing out that you moved the goal post. You see, you NEVER mentioned anything about US cities in your post and Joe clarified his point, perhaps re-read that one.

However -- as I stated, your point is valid for a good many Americans, just not all.

I also agree that diet is far more important than exercise. I know many people who think a workout means they can have those 3 Krispy Kremes........ they overestimate how many calories they burn vs. how many they consume.Although, I do think many folks miss easy ways to "move more". I am always amazed at how many people will circle a parking lot to get a closer spot -- closer being 2 or 3 rows. They also take elevators up a floor or two, when stairways are right there.I actually think both the diet and the exercise "issues" are hugely impacted by the PACE OF LIFE in the US. We are always in a hurry, we rush through meals, want a "5 min cooking solution", etc...... if we slowed down a bit, perhaps it would help.

Unfortunately diet soda is not a good alternative. Studies have found diet drinks increase sugar cravings and increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes. I used to drink Coke Zero regularly but now only drink soft drinks when I go to the movies. Unsweetened tea and water are my beverages of choice now.

By the end of the study period, 1,369 of the women were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that on average, the women consumed more diet drinks than sugar-sweetened drinks -- 328 milliliters each week of sugar-sweetened beverages and 568 milliliters each week of artificially sweetened beverages.

Both diet and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was linked with a higher risk of developing diabetes, researchers found. But interestingly enough, when comparing diabetes risk between the diet soda drinkers and regular soda drinkers, the diet drinkers had an even higher risk of diabetes.

Meanwhile, the women who only reported drinking 100 percent juice did not have an increased risk of diabetes, according to the study.

I also agree that diet is far more important than exercise. I know many people who think a workout means they can have those 3 Krispy Kremes........

Everyone's body is different, but I think the major prob is inactivity over diet. I overeat constantly. Hell I just downed a bowl of spaghetti with bread and butter AND just got back from Dunkin Donuts and ate 6 donuts and a glass of milk in one sitting. This is fairly common for me. But I am very very active, I workout 3 times a week (with weights) and walk/jog several miles a week. I'm anything but fat.

miss easy ways to "move more". I am always amazed at how many people will circle a parking lot to get a closer spot -- closer being 2 or 3 rows.

^THIS I see it everyday. People will wait for 3 minutes, and block everyone else, just to get that spot near the door. I actually park as far away from the door as possible jsut to get in that extra bit of exercise.

Everyone's body is different, but I think the major prob is inactivity over diet. I overeat constantly. Hell I just downed a bowl of spaghetti with bread and butter AND just got back from Dunkin Donuts and ate 6 donuts and a glass of milk in one sitting. This is fairly common for me. But I am very very active, I workout 3 times a week (with weights) and walk/jog several miles a week. I'm anything but fat.

Very true.... Sid can eat anything he wants (he grazes every evening) and he never puts much weight on. He eats far more than I do -- and far more junk, yet his waist has been 30-31 for the entire 23 years I've known him. He is about the same height as me too. I look at a donut and I gain a pound. If I didn't play singles tennis a couple times a week, I can't imagine what I'd look like. However, I do try to eat better foods -- with only occasional "bad stuff".

I noticed last year that portion size was down, a SMIDGEON, in the US.. I can remember some visits in the early 2000's when supersize was at its zenith.. Amazing quantities of food plopped on every plate at every table in the restaurants. My nephews and nieces, kids, served piles and piles of food! I was shocked, having become use to my new normal here in Europe. As for kids, yeah, in many rich countries, they are probably more sedentary than older generations were as kids... There are fat epidemics in young people in many countries now.

« Last Edit: October 16, 2013, 08:57:29 PM by mecch »

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ďFrom each, according to his ability; to each, according to his needĒ 1875 K Marx

The Dutch may be genetically "gifted" in this respect. From Amsterdam all the way through northern Germany, lots of tall, slim, men.. Don't know first hand for Sweden Norway and Finland, but I suspect it might be the same...

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ďFrom each, according to his ability; to each, according to his needĒ 1875 K Marx

I think the elephant in the room is the glaring amount of poverty in the United States. Let's face it, healthy food = expensive food.

I've heard this repeated so often that it almost seems to be a universal truth. I guess I can't fathom how being poor can cause you to be overweight. Reminds of the news report the other morning indicating that millions of people were going hungry because the EBT system was temporarily down . Really, within mere hours?

I'll guarantee my food budget is much less than the average and consists mainly of healthy foods. Perhaps it's the fact that healthy foods require preparation rather than simply opening a bag of chips? I'm a people watcher and I tend to view what's in peoples' cart when shopping. Heavy people tend to have the usual culprits where as the more fit people have the healthier options.

Unless you live in a highly urban area, there's also no reason you can't have a small yard garden. Healthy foods plus the benefit of exercise. But my belief is that some people would rather sit in front of their tv with a bag of Oreos.

I also believe obesity patterns are taught and passed on. None of this is empirical, simply my views. Those who can access my family list on FB will notice I don't have a single overweight relative in my immediate family.

Plus try to imagine having little money plus little time and hungry kids and the food becomes quick and crap and the treats cheap and fat. Plus our UK gov stripped so much away from activity based organizations while at the same time putting on the Olympics , Still the playing fields off Eton did not get sold off for housing as so many off the state schools did in the 80 - 90 , s .

Also Its very hard for fat people to keep up a good riot .

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"If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to help people ." Tony Benn

That's s conspiracy I can get behind. America is ready for a revolution butwe are all too fat and lazy to get off the couch.

But the tea-partiers got off their couches and created a mini-revolution. I don't see Americans as lazy at all. Maybe overweight but I think its apples and oranges..

US is an incredibly productive country, for labour, for GNP, etc. I also think people are pretty involved in whatever social issues move them, and informed. Though maybe each camp considers the other campsites poorly informed...

Maybe percentage of people who vote is only medium...

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ďFrom each, according to his ability; to each, according to his needĒ 1875 K Marx

I also believe obesity patterns are taught and passed on. None of this is empirical, simply my views. Those who can access my family list on FB will notice I don't have a single overweight relative in my immediate family.

I have to agree that this is part of the problem. I see it in my own family. My Aunt is Morbidly obese, her 2 boys are big, one is probably 450-500 pounds. I remember as a child visiting them and dinners consisted of mac and cheese and cake. Those are the only obese people in my family. As a child I only had cake on my birthday...PERIOD.

Reminds of the news report the other morning indicating that millions of people were going hungry because the EBT system was temporarily down . Really, within mere hours?

I also believe obesity patterns are taught and passed on. None of this is empirical, simply my views. Those who can access my family list on FB will notice I don't have a single overweight relative in my immediate family.

But there are a lot of Wolfie's on your friends list and anyone can look at that!!! ")

I have a branch of my family that is massively obese (over 350 lbs!) Two of them have died in their thirties already (early onset DM and smoking-- a lethal combo). I have a good chance of outliving them even with AIDS.

They don't move a lot, they live in American suburbs where you can drive everywhere and they spend their free time on the couch. They eat a TON, and constantly. When we have a family event together they stop on the way for food, and bring snacks!

I've vacationed with fatter people (they weren't morbid by any means). I've noticed that they eat a lot, and with more regular frequency.

It's all how much you take in and how much you burn. I don't think there's much genetics.